Thermal transport in magnetic materials: A review

Abstract

Thermal transport in magnetic materials has become a pivotal research area due to its fundamental importance and potential applications in thermal management, spintronics, and energy conversion technologies. Beyond conventional heat carriers such as phonons and electrons, magnetic excitations—including magnons and spinons—play a substantial role in heat transport within these materials. Their transport behaviors are influenced by factors such as dimensionality, defects, magnetic structures, and external stimuli like magnetic and electric fields. Additionally, the coupling of magnetic excitations with phonons or electrons is critical in modulating the thermal properties of magnetic materials. This review provides a comprehensive overview of thermal transport mechanisms in magnetic materials, with a focus on magnetic excitations. Recent advancements reveal intriguing behaviors, including ballistic magnetic thermal transport, size-dependent thermal transport, and the impact of various scattering processes on thermal conductivity. Furthermore, external magnetic and electric fields have been shown to manipulate thermal conductivity by modifying magnetic dispersion, spin configurations, and scattering processes. These findings open a new pathway for controlling heat flow in magnetic systems. This review highlights the important role of thermal transport studies in advancing our understanding of magnetic materials and offers valuable insights into the development of functional thermal devices utilizing these materials.